The Nation Newspaper

Tag: GOVT

  • Govt okays vessels for Customs patrol

    The Federal Government has approved two vessels for the Customs to tackle sea pirates.

    Sources told The Nation that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) gave approval for the vessels’ acquisition at its meeting in Abuja.

    Controller of the Western Marine Command, Apapa, Lagos, Mr Zakka Audu, said the Command would restructure as soon as the vessels arrive.

    “Our jurisdiction is purely on water and creeks. In the past, we have not been able to reach the high seas. But with the vessels approved by the Federal Government, our Command will become more effective in monitoring the high seas.

    “All the seizures we have been making so far have been in the creeks and rivers, while the smugglers bring in ships which they anchor on the high seas where we are unable to reach,’’ he said.

    He said an Assistant Comptroller-General had been assigned by the Comptroller-General of Customs to inspect facilities at the command to upgrade them.

    Audu said the command’s officers and men were being trained on the use of weapons, swimming and others.

    The Public Relations Officer Command, Mr Zakari Chado, said the command recorded six seizures valued at over N3 million last month.

    The items, he said, were abandoned by smugglers on sighting customs patrol boats.

    The seizures, he said, were made at Idiroko, Yekeme and Badagry.

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at Seme border has arrested a couple for allegedly importing 30kg of Cannabis (Indian hemp) worth N3.2 million into the country.

    The Area Comptroller, Mr Othman Salleh, said the couple was arrested with the drug in a KIA saloon car with registration number KST 160 AG at Gbaji-Yeke checkpoint.

    The female suspect, he said, was arrested with a baby on her back; the husband was partially disabled.

    According to the customs boss, the hard drug was concealed in the engine and back seat compartments of the car.

    The suspects, the exhibits and the car, he said, had been handed over to narcotic officials at the border.

  • Govt, private sector urged to adopt solar energy

    Government should adopt solar energy to solve its power supply problems, the Chief Executive Officer, Sovereign Solar Energy Technology Limited, Dr Felix El-Schaeddhaei, has said.

    He advised the Federal Government and private firms to embrace this energy alternative for rural electrification.

    He said: “Solar electric power systems are an effective energy conservation programme because they conserve costly conventional power for urban areas and town market centres including industrial, commercial and private uses. This will allow for decentralised solar generated power for lighting and satisfying basic electrical needs.”

    He said solar technology applications were not widely exploited and, as such, many have been left out of the development loop.

    “If we can learn from Japan and other countries and tailor various Nigerian market specific programmes aimed at reducing the cost of solar power systems, we will be able to support the growth of the solar industry in Nigeria,” he said.

    El-Schaedhaei also recommended the use of solar energy for tackling the problems of climate change and ensuring a cleaner environment.

    He explained that solar energy technologies use energy from the sun to provide electricity and even cooling for businesses, industries and homes, saying it is a clean, non-polluting and renewable source that can improve power efficiency.

    He listed other gains inherent in the use of solar energy to include its nature,environmental sustainability, easy use, as well as low cost of maintenance

    “I have worked within the energy industry for a few years now and paid close attention to how the Solar energy works for the generation of electricity.

    “I find the process very insightful.I am fascinated by the UK Government’s high level of interest in the technology

    “I feel it will do well if the PHCN look at a way of implementing similar processes in Nigeria to boost and increase our much needed power generation. This is a very interesting initiative, such that people can generate electricity themselves through their solar panels mostly installed on their roof, within the comfort of their homes, they enjoy the free electricity and still get paid for what they have generated.

    “There are just too many advantages of solar energy over the non-renewable resources like oil. Solar energy is healthier than oil.The burning of oil releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into our environment. The average home produces more than twice the amount of carbon dioxide than an average car does.

    “Solar panels are cheap to build. All you need is a reliable ‘Do It Yourself’ kit and a guide that will guide you every step of the way.

    I think it is high time government encourage this technology”.

  • Cassava processors seek govt help

    Niger state

    The Niger State branch of the Nigeria Cassava Processors Association and Marketers (NCPM) has appealed to the state government to assist its members with machinery and equipment for the production of high quality cassava flour for bread making.
    Mr Jamiu Lawal, the association’s chairman who made the appeal in an interview with reporters in Minna, said that the state government’s assistance would also go a long way in encouraging cassava chips export.
    “The Federal Government is encouraging the the production of high quality cassava flour to produce bread and we cannot achieve that without the necessary machinery and equipment which are quite expensive for the peasant farmer.
    “So we are calling on the state government to come to our aid by supporting us to procure these machinery and equipment on loan, to enable us meet the demand for high quality cassava flour.’’
    He said that the call became imperative as the association nationwide, found it difficult to access the N500 million loan set aside for cassava growers and processors across the country.
    “We are finding it difficult to access the N500 million loan set aside by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration for cassava growers and processors nationwide.’’
    According to him, N300 million of the fund is voted for cassava processors in the country.
    He, however, expressed regret that the association found it difficult to access the money due to bottlenecks by banks administering the loan, adding that access to credit constituted a major challenge to the production of high quality cassava flour.
    “We have cassava in large quantity in Niger State but since we do not have the processing technologies, we find it difficult to meet the international quality standard for cassava chips and flour,’’ he said.